Someday soon—in a year, two tops—you won't think twice if you hear the words, &quot;THE RAYS ARE IN THE WORLD SERIES!&quot; In the meantime these young American League champs are worthy of taking on the Phillies

Many a tree has been felled, many a sonnet delivered in the name of the Cubs fan and his 100 years of suffering—but what of the snakebitten Philadelphia fan, whose own title drought stands at precisely 100 seasons?

To cut it as an NFL cornerback requires the ability to read minds, eyes and hips; the tools to match up with wideouts half a foot taller; and above all the ego to bounce back from regular doses of abject—and very public—humiliation

Sixteen months after he was chosen first overall, a healthy Greg Oden has finally taken the court for the Blazers. With the addition of his rebounding and shot blocking—and maybe even his scoring—to a talented core, Portland is ready to make a move in the West

For the Record

HospitalizedAfter reportedly having surgery to remove part of his right foot, UNC-Ashevillecenter Kenny George (above), who at 7'7" is the nation's tallest collegebasketball player. George, 22, a senior, contracted a staph infection in Augustand has had several operations to treat it; according to several media outletshe underwent an amputation earlier this month. (Citing George's privacy, theschool has not confirmed the reports.) Said coach Eddie Biedenbach, "Thisis a terrible setback for Kenny George, that he's not going to be able to playbasketball this year."

DiedAt age 85, bodybuilding pioneer Ben Weider. In 1946 Weider and his brother Joefounded the International Brotherhood of Body Builders to sanction amateur andprofessional competitions. The Weider brothers became the sport's greatestpromoters, building a business empire that included lines of equipment andnutritional supplements and Muscle and Fitness magazine. (In '68 they broughtArnold Schwarzenegger, then an unknown bodybuilder in Austria, to Californiaand helped him become a champion.) Ben Weider was also a noted Napoleonscholar; in 1982 he cowrote The Murder of Napoleon. He was awarded France'sLegion of Honor for his work.

DiedAt age 71, after a heart attack, 1962 American League Rookie of the Year TomTresh (right). The versatile Tresh broke in with the Yankees as aswitch-hitting shortstop and was an All-Star in his first full season, when hebatted .286 with 20 home runs. The following year he moved to the outfield andwas an All-Star again; he won a Gold Glove as a centerfielder in '65. He spent81/2 seasons with the Yankees before being traded to the Tigers midway through'69. He retired after that season.

FiledIn Jacksonville, attempted murder charges in the shooting of Jaguars offensivelineman Richard Collier. Collier, 26, and a male friend were sitting in aparked car outside a Jacksonville apartment complex early on Sept. 2 when agunman fired at them. Collier was left paralyzed below the waist and had hisleft leg amputated. Last Saturday police charged Tyrone Romaro Hartsfield, 32,of Jacksonville with attempted murder, saying he wanted revenge on Collierafter they had a fight in April. Earlier this month Hartsfield told the FloridaTimes-Union that he wasn't involved in the shooting.

ApologizedFor comparing Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez to Adolf Hitler, ESPN collegefootball analyst Lou Holtz. Last Friday the ex-coach was discussing Rodriguez'srocky start at Michigan—the Wolverines are 2--5 this season—and said, "Youknow, Hitler was a great leader too." During halftime of the GeorgiaTech--Clemson game the next day, Holtz told a TV audience he was sorry."While trying to make a point about leadership, I made an unfortunatereference," he said. "I sincerely apologize."

SentencedTo death, a Beijing Olympics official found guilty of corruption. In 2006former Beijing vice mayor Liu Zhihua, 59, was fired from his job overseeingOlympic construction projects for allegedly accepting bribes from developmentcompanies. Last Saturday, Liu was given the death penalty, a sentence that willbe commuted to life in prison if he shows good behavior for the next twoyears.

ScoredBy New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero, a goal in a 3--1 win over theColumbus Crew last Saturday. Cepero, 23, who is filling in while regular keeperJon Conway serves a 10-game MLS suspension for using a banned substance, is thefirst keeper to score in an MLS game. In the 83rd minute he took a free kick;it bounced about 20 yards in front of Columbus keeper Andy Gruenebaum and flewover his head and into the net. "I had no idea it even went in," hesaid. "I put it in the general area where I thought my teammates could dosomething with it."

They Said It

JEREMY SHOCKEYSaints tight end, on being fully recovered from a hernia: "It's the firsttime I can sneeze without feeling like I'm getting stabbed at a bar."

SIGN OF THE APOCALYPSE

PETA sent a letter to Phillies outfielder ShaneVictorino asking him to stop eating Spam.